Beet-topper



M. A. GREEN.

BEET TOPFER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1918..

1,3213 37. Patented'NOv. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. .1

avna/mim STATES MORGAN A. GREEN,

OF RUPERT IDAI-IO.

BEET-TOPPER.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

ratentea Nov. 11,` 1919.

Application filed April 24, 1918. Serial No. 230,524;

To all whom it may conoern:

Be it known that I, MORGAN A. GREEN, a citizen of the. United States, residing at Rupert, in the county of Minidoka and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in Beet-Toppers, of which the following is a speeification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in beet harvesters and the principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for cutting of the tops of the beets before being harvested.

The present invention is an improvement over that described in the application filed by me on October 29th, 1917, Serial No. 199,047.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and one which can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a minimum cost.

The invention also consists in certain other feaures of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the sever-al parts, to be hereinafter fully descri'bed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the acconpanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side view of a beet harvester to Which my invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts omitted.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with parts in Section of the topper attachment. 4

Fig. 4 is a side view with parts in Section of the attachment.

As shown in these views the ,machine comprises a frame A provided with a front truck B and having its rear end supported by the Wheels 15 which are mounted on the axle 16.

As before stated the present improvement relates to the topping means for topping the beets before they are dug by the plows and such means consist of the frame 3 formed of angle or like bars. These bars are provided with cylindrical portions 3' which engage circular portions 2 of the frame A which support the shaft 16. The parts 3" and 2 are so arranged that the frame 3 may be raised and lowered with the part 2 aeting as a pivot therefor.` As Will be seen the bars formng the frame 3 are spaced apart both horlzontally and vertically and at the front ends the lower bars support the shafts 4 which project downwardly as p shown. These shafts carry the rollers 5 for the endless belt 6, lpreferably composed of metal links to which the cutting teeth 7 are secured at the lower edge thereof. I prefer to make the rollers 5 of concave shape so as to firmly hold the belt 6 thereon. In the operative position of the topper thev axles 4 are inclned so that the cutting teeth 7 011 the front stretch of the belt project downwardly as shown. One of the shafts 4 is driven by means of the beveled gear 8 meshing with the similar gear 9 on the shaft 10 which is driven from the aXle 16 by means of the gears 11. The other shaft 4 is adjustably mounted in a part of the frame which is slotted to permit said adjustment.

12 indicates a roller having its ends carried by the adjusta'ble. posts 13 so that said roller may be adjusted vertically and one of said posts slidingly engages the gear 13' meshing with theJ ge-ar13x -carried by an extension of the shaft 10. Said post also carries the gear 14 which meshes with the gear 14' carried by the roller.

22 indicates a -flattening roller carried by the post 23 at the front of the frame 3. 24 are uprights secured to the front end of the frame 3 and having the cross piece 25 at the upper ends.

When necessary I may provide counterbalancing means for the frame 3 so that the /parts carried by said frame will move With the least possible effort.

It will be seen that as the h-arvester moves forward the roller 22 will flatten out the beet tops so that the roller 12, which is a gaging roller for regulating the position of the cutting teeth, will not be caused to rise by the beet tops. As before stated the roller 12 is adjustable so that the cutting teeth ma f 'be made to engage the tops at any desired distance from the body of the beet. It will also be seen that when the plows are lifted upwardly the topper neans will also be carried upwardly out of operative position.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will .be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangenent of the several parts, provided that suchehanges fall Within the scope of the appendedielaims.

VVhat I elam sz- 1. In combination With a beet harvester, a topper attachment consisting ofan elongated frame having' oneend pivoted to the drive shaft of the harvester, an adjlustable roller at the other end of 'said frame, a air of vertically disposed rollers carried by said V frame adjacentthe first mentioned roller,

an endless belt oarried by said rollers, `cuttng teeth onV said belt, and driving means oonnecting one of said 'rollers With the drive 15 shaft. V

In combination With a .beetharvester,

- 'h'i'pies of this patent niay be obtained for a topper attaehment consisting` of an elongated frame having one end pivoted to the vdrive shaft of the harvester, an adjustable roller at the other end of said frame, a pair 'of'vertically disposed rollers on the frame adjacent said first mentioned roller, cntting Vmeans earried by said rollers, gears con- MORGAN A. GREEN.

five cents each, by addressngithe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

